This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Crepe myrtles are shrubs or small trees that produce large flowers in the summer. They are distinguished by their multiple trunks and mottled, peeling bark. They prefer warmer temperatures and do well in southern states. Crepe myrtles bloom from new growth, so pruning is important; however they perform best with light, natural pruning. The following steps will guide you in pruning your crepe myrtle.

Steps

Method1

Preparing to Prune the Plant

1

Gather pruning equipment. To prune a mature crepe myrtle, you're going to need a few different types of pruning tools. Gather the following supplies from your garage or a hardware store before you get started:

A hand pruner, for pruning small twigs and thin branches.

Loppers, which are used to cut thicker branches that are higher up.

Pole pruners, which cut even thicker branches.

A pruning saw, for the thickest branches you need to cut.

2

Start to prune in the late winter or early spring. Crepe myrtles bloom on new growth, so it’s best to prune them in the late winter or early spring just before they come out of dormancy and send out new leaves and branches. Some gardeners prune in the fall, but this can remove the year’s new growth as a buffer against winter damage.[1]

Crepe myrtles grow flower buds on new growth, so you should still get blossoms as long as you leave enough time in the growing season.

If leaves haven’t yet or have just barely appeared, it should be safe to prune your plant. It’s possible to prune as late or even later than May without harming the tree. However, pruning this late will probably delay your bloom time.

Pruning before leaves sprout on the tree is also helpful because you get a clearer view of which branches to cut.

Keep in mind that you can remove flowers when they fade in the summer to encourage a second bloom, as well.

3

Determine what shape and size you want the crepe myrtle to be. To keep a crepe myrtle healthy and beautiful, you want to prune with an eye toward opening up the middle of the tree to allow air to flow through more easily. Don't over-prune by lopping the trunks close to the ground. Aside from those guidelines, you can prune your crepe myrtle to a shape and size that works for your yard.

Crepe myrtles can grow about 1 to 2 feet (30-40 cm) per season, so prune based on your desired tree height. For example, if you want your tree to be about 6 feet (2 m) tall, you will want to prune back to 4 to 5 feet (121 cm to 166 cm).

Keep in mind that new growth will sprout from the pruned areas.

Method2

Pruning the Crepe Myrtle

1

Stand back and observe how the crepe myrtle is growing. Brutal knobbing (the method above) can produce a lot of blooms but it comes at the expense of the shape of the tree. This is because crepe myrtles will skin over and repair any place where a branch has been removed. Therefore, imagine that after you've pruned, whatever you leave behind will grow larger in both circumference and length each year.

Look at images of crepe myrtles from a hundred years ago and you'll see how beautiful the tree looked when pruned more gently.

2

Prune small sprouts at bottom of tree first. These are called "suckers." Left untrimmed, these will give your crepe myrtle a bushy appearance, and may compete with your main trunks for resources. Suckers can be pulled out when they first sprout or trimmed with a hand pruner. Leave the large, healthy, thick trunks to keep growing taller and stronger.[2]

3

Cut side branches. Prune any branches coming out of side of the trunk up to about halfway up the trunk. This is called limbing-up, and helps the tree retain an attractive shape.

For younger trees that you are starting to shape, prune the small limbs from the ground up, leaving only the 3-5 strongest limbs.

Remove smaller branches that are growing horizontally or toward the inside of the tree.

4

Prune out dead and crossing branches. You can use hand pruners for small, thin branches that you can reach, loppers for branches that are more than 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick, or a pole pruner for thicker or taller branches. Cut branches that are growing at an angle or that detract from the shape you are trying to achieve.

5

Cut long or arching branches back to where they are no more than 1/2-inch in diameter. Branches that are too thin will still bloom, but they will not be able to bear the weight of the blooms and will droop or break.[3]

If you're cutting a branch back to the trunk, cut flush with the trunk instead of leaving a stub.

Use loppers for lower branches or pole pruners for the tall ones out of reach.

It is not necessary to cut off seed pods. It won't affect blooming.

Method3

Assessing Your Crepe Myrtle Plant

1

Look at the flower color. There are dozens of varieties of crepe myrtle, and each has a different growing pattern that may impact how you want to prune it. One way to narrow down the type of crepe myrtle you are growing is to look at the color of the blossoms. This alone will not tell you what type of plant you have, but it can assist you in narrowing down your search.[4]

Popular varieties of crepe myrtle include Catawba, which has purple blooms, Osage, which has light pink blossoms, Natchez, which has white blooms, and Miami, which has bright pink flowers.[5]

The length of the bloom may also help you figure out your variety. Some crepe myrtle plants, such as Natchez and Osage, have longer blooming periods than the average plant.

2

Check the bark color. Along with blossom color, the bark color of your crepe myrtle can help you figure out which variety you have. Bark may range in color from gray to brown, and may be muted or vibrant. Compare both bark and flower color to help you determine which crepe myrtle plant you are working with.

Catawba has a light gray-brown bark, while Osage and Miami have a deep chestnut brown color. Natchez has cinnamon-colored bark.

3

Evaluate the growing pattern. Crepe myrtles can grow in number of ways, and the nature of their growth will impact you you trim them. Some varieties grow like small trees, while others as small, compact shrubs, and others still grow as broad, spreading shrubs. Look at how your crepe myrtle grows to determine how you want to prune it.

Catawba grow as a small shrub where Osage grows as a large shrub or small tree. Both Miami and Natchez grow as trees, though Natchez varieties tend to arch where Miami varieties grow upright.

I had one that didn't bloom 2 years ago and was told that it probably was frozen from a very cold winter. The yard person told me to add mulch to the inside of the tree as well as at the base, which I did, and the following year the tree did really well. I don't know if this was the cause or not, but it's worth a try. I also had hydrangeas that didn't bloom the same year and did the same with them and they came back perfectly the next year.

Maybe aphids. Check for black mold on leaves and trunk. Look for little green bugs on the plant, mostly the underside of leaves. If so, use a solution of:
1 cup veggie oil
4 tablespoons dawn dish soap
1 gallon water
Pump spray on, leave 2 hours, rinse with high pressure water hose. Leaves will return in a week or two or next season.

How do I trim a Crepe Myrtle so it grows into a tree with few trunks instead of a bush?

Community Answer

Method 2 and Method 3 above both address this. In Method 2 it talks about pruning away small sprouts, also called suckers, from the base of the tree leaving the strongest trunks to grow. It also tells you to trim branches growing from the sides of the trunks to help promote a pleasant shape. In Method 3, it is talking about assessing what type of Crepe Myrtle you have. Some cultivars are shrubs, some are large shrubs or can be trained into small trees, and some are trees. Trying to train a shrub into a tree is going to be frustrating for you, and unhealthy for the plant.

Should I cut back shoots that are coming out of the ground fairly close to the main trunks?

Community Answer

Typically, these suckers/shoots are quickly pruned away due to the fact that they essentially grow from the roots. Doing so, they will be fed as much of the plants "energy" as they can handle. It all depends on the overall look you are going for, but if you already have an established tree turning into a shrub, they should be pruned.

When should I trim old blossoms/seed pods from crepe myrtle? I live in South Carolina.

Community Answer

As soon as they appear. Since they bloom on new growth, pruning out spent flowers sends the message to the tree that this branch still needs to flower in order to propagate. Of course, this is contingent on the weather/climate setting that mood. Also note that any repeat blooming is typically not as abundant as the initial one.

Video.

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Tips

Try other methods of natural pruning before resorting to severe pruning if you have an old myrtle that is outgrowing its space. You can create a canopy by limbing-up low growing branches.

You can limb-up higher branches to create a tall canopy if they are obstructing the view from a window.

You won't have to prune heavily to keep the size down if you choose a variety that fits best with your landscape and space.

Warnings

Prune any diseased or defective branches as soon as the problem occurs.

Severe pruning, sometimes referred to as "crepe murder," can weaken the tree and lead to damage and disease. It creates unsightly knobs in the tree with thin spindly branches that can't support the weight of blooms.

To prune a Crepe myrtle, you'll need some pruning equipment, like a hand pruner for smaller branches and a pruning saw for larger branches. Plan to prune your myrtle in late winter or early spring, when it is best for the plant. To begin pruning, decide what size and shape you'd like your myrtle to be. Start pruning any small sprouts at bottom of tree first to keep it from looking bushy. Then, cut off any dead, crossing, or side branches, leaving the 3-5 healthiest main limbs to grow. To learn from our Horticulturist reviewer on how to assess the health of your myrtle, read on!

"My crepe myrtles are over 20 years old. Ten trees that outline my back yard which backs up against a creek bed. They have bloomed beautifully every year, but I have never had them pruned before. This article was an eye opener. I will prune this winter!"..." more

JW

Jeff Wallis

May 30, 2016

"Good information. Most people just do what they see neighbors do, right or wrong-- wrong, in the case of crepe murder. I had no idea how to care for these after buying a home where they were already years old and had been over-pruned many times."..." more

JB

Jan Beach-Moberg

Aug 1, 2017

"Statements that helped were to not over trim. Do you want a tree or a bush? Great that I have a choice. I need to further investigate about acidic soil. Do not plant in alkaline soil. Go for sunny. I am now sure I want one of these bush/trees."..." more

FK

Fred Kerby

Jun 19, 2017

"This article provides a great overview, as well as details about how to properly prune a crepe myrtle. I expect that it will be invaluable when I do it this coming winter."..." more

Rated this article:

AW

Anne Walsh

Jun 26, 2017

"I wasn't sure how to prune. This showed me to thin and prune cross branches. I usually only prune the top. I can't wait to try out my new knowledge."..." more

GS

Geralyn Simpson

Mar 13, 2017

"Just in time to prune my crepe myrtles. Great instructions, clear pictures, and a video to boot! Everything I needed to take care of my crepes!"..." more

BM

Bonnie Myers

Apr 8, 2017

"How much to cut back so as not to murder the future growth helped, and the mulch process, that I was able to distinguish which myrtle I own."..." more

LD

Lynne Dowdy

Sep 3, 2016

"This video was very helpful. It's too early now, but I can't wait to prune my crepe myrtle so it will grow beautifully. Thank you."..." more

SA

Scott A.

Feb 23, 2017

"Didn't know what I was going to do in late spring with 13 myrtles in my front yard, the gentle pruning method was helpful."..." more

JE

Janis Evaniak

Mar 28, 2016

"First time having a crepe myrtle and first time trimming. You make it seem easy. I hope it is. :-)"

KC

Kim C.

Sep 23, 2017

"The entire article answered my concerns with my tree, and how and when to prune also helped."

BB

Brenda Bess

Aug 1, 2016

"Talked through the process of cutting limbs and the video showed the way it should be done."

GJ

Gary Jennings

Jun 29, 2017

"She demonstrated exactly how to trim a crepe myrtle. I thought she did a great job."

A

Anonymous

Oct 12, 2016

"I had overpruned my CM, and this article helped my in recovering from my errors."

KO

Kimberly Osment

Jun 15, 2017

"Need more pictures of after it is pruned. Good information and helpful."